LEAP Graduation 2006
"Lets' Do It Together" 
 

Self-worth, hope and congratulations were the message of the day to the 59 graduates of the 2006 L.E.A.P. training program. The sixth L.E.A.P. Graduation ceremony was held again at Hungry Mother Park on September 14, 2006 with 10 area Clubhouses in attendance. 

The clear fall-like day started at the Hungry Mother State Park Restaurant with fellowship and refreshments. The ceremony began with opening remarks by Judy Salyer, the Coordinator of the Southwest Virginia Consumer and Family Project. Ms. Salyer congratulated the graduating class of L.E.A.P. participants and went on to say how honored she was to personally be able to help teach one of the classes and be “a part of such a meaningful and worthwhile program for Mental Health Consumers of Southwest Virginia”. 

Ms. Salyer was followed by the keynote address given this year by Ms. Lisa Moore, Director of the Mount Rogers Community Services Board. Ms. Moore offered a message of hope and inspiration to the consumers in attendance and challenged them to use their newly acquired advocacy skills to empower themselves and to also help their fellow consumers. Her message was well received by the audience and she was treated to a rousing round of applause and accolades for her evocative message. 

Several Consumers were then asked to speak in an open forum, about their experience with L.E.A.P. training and what it has meant to them. Many consumers partook of the opportunity to give their personal testimony on how L.E.A.P. has already impacted them favorably and allowed them to make great strides in advocating for themselves. Graduates talked about experiences like advocating to get Medicaid benefits reinstated to increasing self esteem and awareness about their particular illnesses. Each consumer who spoke touched the hearts of the others in the room. It was a very moving time for many who were in attendance. 

Each Consumer Graduate was then presented with a Certificate of Graduation and pictures were taken to commemorate the day. Lunch was served and the fellowship continued into the afternoon. 

To date, over 360 consumers have completed L.E.A.P. training. The Southwest Virginia Consumer and Family Project is the only area in Virginia to be conducting L.E.A.P. training.  

Congratulations to all the consumer L.E.A.P. graduates, past and present, who have made a positive step toward recovery for themselves and toward learning to help others achieve this important part of coping successfully with a Mental Illness.